If you want your expansions to succeed you need
- proof of concept when you start it, and a significant portion already done so people don't waste their time
- be involved in the work and force progress if you have to
- keep everyone up to date and make their contributions feel appreciated and like they're responsible for it rather than it being absorbed into an unfeeling unthinking borg that would replace it / do things without permission - I struggled a lot with this on the core dev team and I feel like if someone makes anything they should be at least informed on what is happening to it.
I'm not perfect and I lose my temper and act unhelpful sometimes
and I couldn't have done it without all my contributors
Thanks to LlamaHombre for inspiring me to start the expansion when he said he'd be down to make a Rock Force map all the way back in March or so when I started work. Thanks even more for sticking to it and releasing the first map not from myself. The hype train wouldn't have taken off if it wasn't for you.
Thanks to Mendez for basically carrying the other half of the expansion on his back. He probably stopped the expansion from stalling by himself, and provided you all with a set of 12 maps instead of 8 when he went above and beyond to make Flare Man and begin the fusion set. Thanks for getting us through tough times when Circuit was dropped and Pulse was void.
Thanks to Sonicfam for practically co-leading the project. First person to sign up, allowed me to bounce a lot of ideas off, and responsible for your awesome boss fight. Keeping things going behind the scenes while other contributors made the maps and skins deserves special thanks.
Thanks to Jakeinator for bringing fresh talent and an impressive dedication to the team. When he signed up I didn't even put him down for the map. I had no idea what he'd do. He blew me away and Crypt is still one of the prettiest and nicest flowing maps in the game, alongside the frantic Terror. I hope I nurtured his desire to become better.
Thanks to FTX6004 for being so involved in skin making and finishing / helping with skins many others weren't able to do. I saw many War Men (a personal favourite) and Photon in the server, and without him we'd probably be struggling at 5 skins or so.
Thanks to Dimpsy for working hard and fast on the first skins and providing basis for more. Charade certainly helped fuel the hype and Fuse was genuinely impressive.
Thanks to Lego for providing the final pieces of the puzzle and lending his expertise. Pulse is a blast to play on and I couldn't have done better myself, which I was preparing to do anyway.
Thanks to JaxOf7 for doing what I was unable to do and creating a genuinely amazing Charade Clone. And thanks for touching up all those weapons. People deserve to know how bad Shock Gauntlet would have been without you, and I hope they appreciate the love of details and small bonuses in your work.
Thanks to Dr. Freeman and Watzup for finalising the first set of fusions and doing something I genuinely thought was impossible. I had no idea we'd manage to get every fusion in the first release!
Thanks to Raze. I'm sorry it was so hard for you and I wish I could've eased the load more. Hope it was worth it.
Thanks to Bass44, Blaze... Kirbymariomega... Everyone who contributed anything from a sound effect to an idea to a model that I didn't get to use (thanks Yoshiatom).
Genuinely proud of you all.
Glad we made it bois
no memes here just love
Thanks to Raze. I'm sorry it was so hard for you and I wish I could've eased the load more. Hope it was worth it.
I did the Virusman skin... and I may have given up on Cryptman, but FTX certainly was a strong replacement and i'm glad he took it over...
I was on the verge of crying, doing my best to not let it sink in and let it all out, but I couldn't... I feel great knowing how far we came, despite my small contribution with Virusman and his sprites. If he weren't simplistic, I don't know what I would do...
Virusman was a cool character to look at, even more that he was simplistic... I love all of you guys, and I am happy to hear this coming from those that contributed. From small-time spriters who got acknowledged with a medal (me with Virusman again), to the people who put their backs into it and was majorly shouted out to for their amazing achievement (Mendez, or Bluebrawl [old name]. had it not been for him, an old deceased friend of mine wouldn't have played MM8BDM, and I wouldn't have seen it for myself back in V3B-C, and I wouldn't have been a contributer to everyone around this community...) I'm glad I joined you guys. The drama may never cease; we shall live on for a brighter future however!!
I shall leave with this note, thank you everyone. And thank you for playing... Presented by Max! See you next update, stay awesome community.